DALLAS - College football preseason award watch lists continue to be released and a pair feature Sun Devil Football defensive lineman C.J. Fite.
The Football Writers Association of America listed Fite on both their Bronko Nagurski and Outland Trophy Watch Lists. The Nagurski Trophy recognizes the national defensive player of the year, while the Outland is presented to the nation's best interior lineman (offensive or defensive).
Fite is one of only eight individuals to land on both lists. Earlier in the offseason, he was a Big 12 Preseason All-Conference selection. Fite is widely considered as one of the top returning defensive lineman in all of college football.
- View the Nagurski Trophy preseason watch list
- View the Outland Trophy preseason watch list
Award process
The Outland Trophy winner is chosen from three finalists who are a part of the annual FWAA All-America Team. The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the entire membership, selects a 26-man first team and eventually the three Outland finalists. Committee members, then by individual ballot, select the winner.
Only interior linemen on offense or defense are eligible for the award; ends are not eligible. The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the association’s full membership, selects a 26-man All-America Team and eventually the Bronko Nagurski Trophy finalists. Committee members, by individual ballot, select the winner they regard as the best defensive player in college football.
Selection timeline
The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce four finalists for the 2025 Bronko Nagurski Trophy in mid-to-late November, and the winner will be revealed at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet on Dec. 8 in Charlotte, N.C. The recipient of the 2025 Outland Trophy will be announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards, live on ESPN on Friday, Dec. 12. The official trophy presentation to the winner will be made at the Outland Trophy Awards Dinner sponsored by Werner Enterprises and produced by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee on Jan. 21, 2026 in Omaha, Neb.
About the Outland Trophy
The Outland Trophy is the third-oldest major college football award. Created in 1946 when Dr. John Outland presented the FWAA with a financial contribution to initiate the award, the Outland Trophy has been given to the best interior lineman in college football ever since. Dr. Outland, an All-American at the University of Pennsylvania in the late 1890s, eventually took up practice in Kansas City, Mo. An avid outdoorsman, Dr. Outland believed linemen did not get the credit they deserved and wanted an award to recognize them.
About the Nagurski Trophy
The FWAA has chosen a National Defensive Player of the Year since 1993. In 1995, the FWAA named the award in honor of the legendary two-way player from the University of Minnesota. Nagurski dominated college football, then became a star for professional football’s Chicago Bears in the 1930s. Bronislaw "Bronko" Nagurski is a charter member of both the College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame.
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C.J. Fite
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- 2025 Big 12 Preseason All-Conference Team selection
- Played and started in all 14 games during Arizona State's run to the College Football Playoff
- Named to the 2024 Big 12 All-Conference Second Team
- A member of the Pat Tillman Leadership Council
- Cemented himself as one of the premier interior defensive lineman in the conference
- Finished the season with 30 tackles, four tackles for loss, and two sacks
- Managed to remain productive despite garnering a majority of the attention from opposing blocking schemes
- A matchup problem for Big 12 offensive lineman and a big factor in Arizona State's impressive run defense
- Had at least one tackle in 12 of 14 games, including 3+ tackles on five occasions
- Recovered a fumble and returned it for what proved to be the game-winning touchdown in the 30-23 victory over Mississippi State
- Enjoyed one of the best performances by a defensive tackle in program history when he finished with eight tackles, two tackles for loss, and a sack against Texas Tech
- Came through with a crucial sack in the close win over UCF, one of his three tackles on the night
- Collected a pair of tackles in Arizona State's Big 12 Championship victory in his home state of Texas
- Recorded a tackle for loss in the Peach Bowl matchup with Texas.
- Speak of the Devils Podcast Sitdown Series: Defensive tackle C.J. Fite
More on Sun Devil Football's 2025 preseason watch lists
Maxwell Award preseason watch list
The Maxwell Football Club announced its watch list for the 89th Maxwell Award and Sun Devil Football has a pair of representatives.
Quarterback Sam Leavitt and wide receiver Jordyn Tyson are each candidates for the annual award given to the most outstanding player in college football. The Maxwell Award has been presented to the College Player of the Year since 1937 and is named in honor of Robert “Tiny” Maxwell who was a former standout at Swarthmore College and a renowned sportswriter and football official.
Leavitt and Tyson are one of only 17 pairs of teammates to land on the Preseason Maxwell Award Watch List. The tandem is considered one of the best quarterback-wide receiver combinations in the country heading into the 2025 season and national outlets continue to take notice.
2025 Dodd Trophy preseason watch list
Sun Devil Football Head Coach Kenny Dillingham was named to the preseason watch list for the 2025 Dodd Trophy. The Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc. released the initial candidates for the 2025 Dodd Trophy Presented by PNC Bank. This year's list includes 26 of the nation's top college football coaches, highlighted by Arizona State's Kenny Dillingham.
Dillingham was a finalist for the 2024 Dodd Trophy after leading the Sun Devils to a historic 11-3 season which culminated in a Big 12 Championship, Peach Bowl Appearance, and berth in the College Football Playoff. He was named 2024 Big 12 Coach of the Year for his efforts and is once again being considered as one of the top coaches entering the 2025 season.
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Kenny Dillingham, ASU |
Josh Heupel, Tennessee |
The Big 12 Conference announced the 2025 Preseason All-Conference Team and Sun Devil Football is heavily featured. Arizona State has five players on the Preseason All-Big12 Team and Sam Leavitt has been voted as the Preseason Offensive Player of the league by the media. The five selections are the most of any team in the conference, a clear sign of respect for the talent returning to the program.
- Offensive Player of the Year: Sam Leavitt, QB, Arizona State, RS-So.
- Defensive Player of the Year: Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech, Sr.
- Newcomer of the Year: Devon Dampier, QB, Utah, Jr.
Preseason All-Conference Team (offense)
- QB: Sam Leavitt, Arizona State, RS-So.
- RB: Bryson Washington, Baylor, RS-So.
- RB: Jahiem White, West Virginia, Jr.
- FB/H-Back: Will Swanson, Kansas State, Sr.
- WR: Eric McAlister, TCU, Sr.
- WR: Chase Roberts, BYU, RS-Sr.
- WR: Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State, RS-Jr.
- TE: Joe Royer, Cincinnati, RS-Sr.
- OL: Ben Coleman, Arizona State, Gr.
- OL: Spencer Fano, Utah, Jr.
- OL: Bryce Foster, Kansas, RS-Jr.
- OL: Caleb Lomu, Utah, RS-So.
- OL: Jordan Seaton, Colorado, So.
- PK: Will Ferrin, BYU, RS-Sr.
- PR/KR: Josh Cameron, Baylor, RS-Sr.
- DL: David Bailey, Texas Tech, Sr.
- DL: Dontay Corleone, Cincinnati, RS-Sr.
- DL: C.J. Fite, Arizona State, Jr.
- DL: Lee Hunter, Texas Tech, Sr.
- DL: Dominique Orange, Iowa State, Sr.
- LB: Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech, Sr.
- LB: Austin Romaine, Kansas State, Jr.
- LB: Keaton Thomas, Baylor, RS-Jr.
- DB: Xavion Alford, Arizona State, RS-Sr.
- DB: Bud Clark, TCU, Sr.
- DB: Jeremiah Cooper, Iowa State, Sr.
- DB: DJ McKinney, Colorado, Jr.
- DB: Jontez Williams, Iowa State, RS-Jr.
- P: Palmer Williams, Baylor, Jr.
Most preseason All-Conference selections
Sun Devil Football received the most preseason All-Conference selections by the media, an indication of the level of expectations set for the program around the nation. It is a complete contrast to last season, when zero players from Arizona State landed on the Preseason All-Conference team.
Arizona State, 5
Baylor, 4
Iowa State, 3
Texas Tech, 3
Six teams tied with 2
Walter Camp Preseason All-American teams
The Walter Camp Football Foundation released their Preseason All-American Teams at the end of June and Sun Devil Football has a pair of representatives.
Quarterback Sam Leavitt and wide receiver Jordyn Tyson each landed on the Walter Camp Preseason All-American Second Team. They are two of the 11 individuals to earn the national recognition.
The Sun Devil offense will feature one of the nation's best quarterback-wide receiver duos. Arizona State is one of 11 schools to have at least two players be named Preseason All-Americans by Walter Camp.
Walter Camp Preseason Second-Team All-Americans
Second-Team Offense
QB: Sam Leavitt (Arizona State)
WR: Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State), Elijah Sarratt (Indiana)
RB: Makhi Hughes (Oregon), Isaac Brown (Louisville)
TE: Justin Joly (North Carolina State)
OL: Ar’maj Reed-Adams (Texas A&M), Cayden Green (Missouri), Jordan Seaton (Colorado), Olaivavega Ioane (Penn State)
C: Logan Jones (Iowa)
Walter Camp Preseason All Americans by school
Alabama, Clemson, Indiana, Penn State, Texas - 3
Arizona State, Miami, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, Texas A&M - 2
Athlon Sports Preseason Big 12 honors
A total of 15 Sun Devils received Big 12 Preseason All-Conference recognition from Athlon Sports. Leading the way was wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, who landed on the First Team Offense of Athlon Sports' Preseason All-American Team.
Tyson also was a First Team Big 12 All-Conference selection and is joined by fellow Media Day attendees Sam Leavitt, Ben Coleman, and Xavian Alford in earning the distinction. Here is a full list of preseason honorees from Athlon Sports.